On the Road: Dehradun

We have definitely moved into winter here in India and while it may not be so cold down south here in Coimbatore (and definitely not as cold as some parts of the US!) the chilly north of India us pulling out sweaters and huddling under blankets to stay warm.

Learning about Tibetan Buddhism from monks.

Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, is nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas. We were excited to be 

here for the last leg of our journey where, in addition to learning about Tibet and Buddhism, we had time for rest and reflection. During our week, we spoke to a local mentoring program that's doing some great work with young Tibetan men and shared a meal of buffalo momos (a first for everyone!). We also had the chance to speak with local monks who shared about Tibetan Buddhism and monastery life, and a couple that uses their store as an opportunity for social entrepreneurship. 

Hanging out at a cafe that supports local women. 

Of course there's no better way to cap off a quiet week than to throw in a little whitewater rafting! We made our way over to Rishikesh an hour way, which is also known as the gateway to the Himalayas. The Ganges flows right through the city and students were stoked to spend a day rafting through this scenic area.

Ready for whitewater rafting!

Some of us took the time to wander the city instead and saw the gorgeous views of the city from the two pedestrian suspension bridges that hang over the Ganges. We also sought out the Beatles Ashram before meeting up with the rafting adventurers.

Exploring picturesque Rishikesh.

Final stop: Delhi!